apr04

Inspiration: Living Out Loud

Posted by Kevin Lawver 6 months ago | Permalink | Comments (13)

“If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.”—Emila Zola

My friend and author Kevin Smokler posted that quote on his blog the other day, and I love it.

Like Tennyson’s Ulysses, Zola’s talking about “drinking life to the lees” (lees is the crud at the bottom of the wine bottle) and that’s not something that’s always easy to do. It’s hard to stay inspired, motivated and keep giving everything you have to whatever it is you’re working on. In fact, I’ve been struggling with it myself lately. The tedious stupid annoyances of life keep getting in the way of living out loud.

So, my fellow ficleteers, how do you live out loud and stay inspired?

Category: Inspiration | Tags: , , , , | Use this entry as inspiration

Comments

  1. uselessness' Buddy Iconuselessness

    Posted 6 months ago

    Surrounding myself with people who live out loud helps. I have a number of friends with contagious and inspiring attitudes. I’m also involved in a very encouraging church, which is great (many churches would rather beat you down than lift you up). Finally, I live in a beautiful part of the world that I often take for granted when I’m cooped up staring at my computer; few things are as invigorating to me as taking a leisurely drive through the mountains and just soaking up the nature. If I was more physically active, I’d probably be out running or biking for the same effect.

  2. Saint Chuck's Buddy IconSaint Chuck

    Posted 6 months ago

    Laugh. Laugh out loud. That’s what I do. Even at the smallest things. At innapropriate moments, like during class. At my mistakes. Or at the fact that I’ve put my gym shorts on inside out for the past 3 weeks in a row, never noticing until after the period is over. Laugh, and you will literally live out loud.

  3. Melia's Buddy IconMelia

    Posted 6 months ago

    Great quote. I’m like Saint Chuck. I laugh whenever possible. My favourite thing to do is be in the car with my teenage daughter (who shares my sense of humour) and have both of us just start riffing off something silly until we’re laughing so hard I have to pull over. It’s moments like that that keep me inspired. Finding the humour where ever possible.

  4. Valley Fey/Pinprick's Buddy IconValley Fey/Pinprick

    Posted 6 months ago

    I play. I think that to live, you have to have a certain amount of fun in your life. I play hide and seek, capture the flag, Scrabble… anything I can get my hands on is fair game! While playing I laugh and joke as much as I can. I do improv comedy at my university, which is more playtime for me.

    All you have to do to be happy and live out loud is play :)

  5. THX 0477's Buddy IconTHX 0477

    Posted 6 months ago

    Music. A career with a greater purpose. Imagination. Family. Dreams. And kick-butt belt buckles! Boo-yeah!

  6. ACORN's Buddy IconACORN

    Posted 6 months ago

    I try to stay happy, and just let things come to me. Most of my stories have a basis from events that happen to me.

  7. Blusparrow's Buddy IconBlusparrow

    Posted 6 months ago

    My friends. I love my friends! They help me to make great decisions and unlike most friends they do not like drama. and fight around us they just say w/e. I just love it. They kept me inspired everyday.
    LoA

  8. Jenunique's Buddy IconJenunique

    Posted 6 months ago

    How do I live out loud and stay inspired?

    That is a big question. There are so many ways to answer that. In times of anger- vent, rant, rave, then get over it. Times of sadness- cry, pout, mull it over, and get through it. In days of joy- laugh, sing, dance, and remember it.

    I could go on and on through all the emotions, but with all of them, the most important thing is to learn from the experience. There is a lesson in everything. That is the only way to grow as a human being and, as a bonus, I become inspired. ;)

  9. BARomero's Buddy IconBARomero

    Posted 6 months ago

    Okay, here comes my Asian stereotype… KARAOKE ! My friends and I often get together to do our impressions of William Hung and Renaldo Lapuz, and Myspace recently added a section where you can record your own karaoke songs (if you really want a laugh, look me up over there).

    Actually, any form of creativity keeps the juices flowing, be it writing (in any format), drawing, painting, cooking, gardening. As long as you’re creating something, anything, you’re being creative.

    Also, art is only art if people see it.

  10. Ana Cristina's Buddy IconAna Cristina

    Posted 6 months ago

    For me, inspiration comes in many forms. I am often inspired by art: by reading my favorite authors, by listening to music, or looking at a certain painting or watching a certain film. But my biggest source of inspiration is people. I love people-watching, just listening to scraps of conversation and watching the theater of emotions that play across stranger’s faces.

  11. flute faerie's Buddy Iconflute faerie

    Posted 6 months ago

    I like to listen to music, read my books, and stare out my window. I also like to do crazy stuff with my friends like bringing a big stuffed fish into the mall,then riding the carousel. It keeps my creative juices flowing.

  12. wytherwings' Buddy Iconwytherwings

    Posted 6 months ago

    How do I live out loud?
    My friends. They are how I survive. They are all amazing, and we almost never fight, because there is no need to. We respect each other. We have the most interesting, and strange, conversations. They keep m alive every day, when I’m stressed or worried.
    Also, I take walks. I walk my dog at that time when it’s just about to get dark. It’s so beautiful, and it clears my head so that I can really think.

  13. J.B. Williams' Buddy IconJ.B. Williams

    Posted 6 months ago

    Wow. That’s a hard question. I could say music, but lately I’ve noticed that she’s becoming more corrupted and looking more like a strumpet (hip hop). It’s hard to do that, with all honesty. We all want to be successful. We all want the glory and the flashing lights. I guess I haven’t for a while. I think I’ll start now then.